Abu Salem's aide arrested in Delhi

A shooter associated with gangster Abu Salem was arrested here, police said on Sunday.

Jaan Usman Khan, a resident of Sarai Rohilla area in north Delhi, was arrested at around 7.30 p.m. on Saturday from Kashmere Gate Inter State Bus Terminus, where he had gone to meet his associate.

The 35-year-old sharp shooter was involved in cases relating to circulation of fake currency, extortion and murder in Delhi and Mumbai.

"Khan is an associate of Abu Salem. He was earlier arrested in 2000 in Mumbai in an extortion case involving producer Anil Thadani (husband of Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon)," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.

One country-made pistol and three live cartridges were recovered from his possession, police said.

Khan told police that he had gone to Mumbai in 1996 where he came in contact with one Waseem, a sharp shooter of Abu Salem's gang.

Waseem, an accused in the murder of Gulshan Kumar (owner of T-Series label and a film producer), introduced Khan to Abu Salem and he joined the underworld gang.

"Abu Salem introduced Khan to one Aftab Bhatki, who was running a fake Indian currency note racket from Dubai and Karachi. Khan joined him in circulating the fake notes in India through Nepal and Bangladesh route," Yadav said.

Khan, the official said, was arrested in Delhi in 2000 for circulating fake Indian currency notes.

"After getting released from jail, Khan moved to Mumbai and started extorting money in Bollywood on the directions of Abu Salem. Later, he was arrested for an extortion bid on film distributor Anil Thadani," Yadav said.

The officer further said that Khan came to Delhi in 2010 after his release from a Mumbai jail, but was again arrested on charges under the Arms Act and in connection with the murder of a businessman in Vikas Puri area of west Delhi.

Later, he got bail in these cases and never appeared in court to face trial after which he was declared proclaimed offender, the officer said.

The officer also mentioned that Khan had fired upon singer Daler Mehndi and film producer Rakesh Roshan at Abu Salem's directions for extorting protection money.

Khan, who studied up to class 5, initially started working as a motor mechanic.